Final answer:
To determine the rocket sled's acceleration, use the equation Fnet = F↑ - F↓, derived from Newton's second law of motion. Calculating the net force as the difference between the thrust and the force of friction, and dividing by the mass, provides the sled's acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first equation to use to determine the rocket sled's acceleration is Fnet = F↑ - F↓. This is a form of Newton's second law, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma). In this context, 'F↑' represents the upward force, which is the thrust T provided by the rocket, and 'F↓' represents the downward force, which is the force of friction opposing the motion.
Given the mass of the system (2100 kg), the thrust (2.4 × 10⁴ N), and the force of friction (650 N), we can use the equation to find the acceleration by rearranging Newton's second law to solve for acceleration (a = Fnet / m). Here, the net force (Fnet) is the difference between the thrust and the frictional force (Fnet = T - f). The resulting acceleration can be calculated by dividing the net force by the mass of the rocket sled system.